SummaryPriced at Rs 8,990, Oppo Joy is the company’s first foray into the budget segment in India.

The Oppo N1 was really well received in India, primarily because it was an innovative phone that did not really play the price game which most new entrants try to cash in on in this budget conscious market. The latest from Oppo Mobiles, the Oppo Joy, is the company’s first foray into the budget segment in India.

Design: I couldn’t quite place it, but from the front the Oppo Joy looks like a lot of other sub-Rs 10,000 phones. But its rear flap is more robust and less plasticky that what you would get from the others in this price range. There is a metallic frame that runs around the bezel and holds the device together, though giving it a slightly old feel. The bezel is quite deep at the top and bottom making the screen look a bit tiny at times. Plus, I must warn you that this is one of the toughest phones to open, so dont think of playing around too much with the SIMs.

Screen: It might not be much on paper, but the Joy has one of the best screens in this price range. Even though it appears small due to the extra-large bezel, it offers good viewing angles. I could use it even under the May sun of Delhi and that is an achievement at this price point. The screen is very clear and the touch responsive.

Performance: This is a budget phone, so expect it to perform like one. The phone has a 1.3GHz dual-core processor, but that is pretty much standard these days. We did not encounter any lag or stutter with regular use, however I would not recommend stretching your luck and the phone’s capabilities beyond a point. On benchmark tests, the phone is ranked a couple of spots under the Samsung Galaxy S3 and that is good considering the price point. But you will be constantly reminded about the price you paid for the phone.

Memory: The phone has 4GB internal storage out of which you get to use about 1.3GB. So make sure you buy at least an